Saturday 31 May 2008

Hatfield Forest Bats.

On the evening of the 17th May eight members of the BSNHS joined with the Essex, Herts and Middx Bat Groups to survey the southern end of the forest. It was a most unprepossessing evening with a chilly northeast wind. We surveyed Emblems Coppice and recorded Pipistrelles 45 and 55, Serotine and Leislers bats. On the forest plains Noctule was added to the current list bringing the number of species in the forest up to 10. I have included some recordings made on a bat detector. There is a suggestion that there may be a second meeting on the 26th/27th July. If you are interested please contact me through the usual route.

Tuesday 6 May 2008

Sawbridgeworth Marsh in May. Andy Sapsford. Marsh Warden.

Sawbridgeworth Marsh Diary – 4th May 2008

Spring appears to be finally here after the last cold spell. The last of the winter tasks, the cutting and clearing of the sedge plots, was completed at the start of April. A large part of the sedge beds was marked out into plots in the early 1990s. Some of these are cut on a biennial basis during the early spring. This serves two purposes. Firstly, the sedgebeds are by their very nature quite species poor and are heavily dominated by Greater and Lesser Pond sedges and large stands of Greater Willowherb. By cutting these areas, open ground is exposed, which allows smaller, less competitive herbs such as Marsh Bedstraw, Ragged Robin, Lesser Water Parsnip and Skullcap to compete. Secondly, the short, wet sward is attractive to waders such as Snipe and Lapwing and may even encourage them to attempt to breed.



The marsh is beginning to turn green and a number of spring flowers can be seen in profusion. The early Lesser Celandine is joined in April by swathes of Cowslips, or Peggles as they are known in Essex. Cuckoo Flowers and Marsh Marigolds are also on display at this time of year, both in large numbers this year.



The spring flowers are proving attractive to queen bumblebees and early butterflies. Peacock and Orange Tips were on the wing this morning. The incoming migrant birds are still slow to arrive. A single Cuckoo was calling from Great Valet Homes, there are 3 male Blackcaps along the roadside hedgerow and 6 – 8 male Sedge Warblers in the uncut sedge beds. A Male Whitethroat was calling from the Osier bed at the northern end of the reserve.

Sunday 4 May 2008

BSNHS Summer Diary

Dates for your diary.
Sat May 17th Essex Bat Group Meeting.
Sun May 18th. Big Forest Bird Watch. Meet main car park 7:30 a.m.
Tues May 27th. Parndon Wood Nature Reserve. 6.45pm. Joint meeting with Hatfield Heath group.
Fri June 6th. Evening visit to the Gibberd Garden. Meet at 7.00pm, park at the garden. Walk to the Hermitage and then return to the garden for moth trapping. We have suggested a £2 donation per head to the Gibberd Garden.
Fri 4th July. 6.30pm Main gate. Pond dipping in the Decoy Lake to collect baseline data.
September 6th and 7th. Wood Fest.
If you would like to be included in ‘extra’ bat evenings and checking dormouse nest tubes then please let Bob Reed know.

For all of the above please make sure that you have signed up and left a contact number or address. Full details of any events can be obtained from Bob Reed 01279 600726 or coppicereed@hotmail.com